NZFC POSITIVELY PASIFIKA IN WELLINGTON
Pasifika short film directors were in the spotlight at the recent Positively Pasifika Festival in the capital's Waitangi Park. The event was run by Wellington City Council as part of their 2014 summer series.
“It’s the first time we’ve had Pasifika filmmakers showing their work as part of Positively Pasifika and the response from the community has been fantastic,” said festival organiser Suzanne Tamaki.
Positively Pasifika supplied a screening tent kitted out with big screen, projector, great sound, movie pews with beautiful fine mats as the ‘front rows’. The six hour screening programme curated by filmmaker Chantelle Burgoyne included short films directed by Nikki Si’ulepa, Justine Simei-Barton, Lani Tupu Jnr, Damon Fepulea’I, Marina Alofagia McCartney, Gary Moore, Ruth Kaupua, Sima Urale and others.
“We’re keen for Pasifika directors to have their work screen internationally as well as part of community initiatives such as this and it was great that all the Pasifika filmmakers approached were keen to be part of it “ said Whetu Fala, NZFC Short Film Manager. "With more than 150 people watching the films, we’d love our filmmakers to be able to be a regular part of all sorts of local Pasifika events.”